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Antioch theater club will present last play tonight

The curtain will open for the last time as Cathy's Creative Kids Club presents its final production tonight.

Twenty students will participate in "Alice in Neverland" starting at 7 p.m. at Oakland Elementary School, 818 Grass Lake Road, Antioch.

Director Cathy Leafblad, who wrote the play several years ago and will oversee tonight's show, has been running the program since 2000 in Antioch-area schools. Over the years, she has also directed productions in the Grayslake and Millburn schools.

"I've had a wonderful 15 years - loved the kids, loved working at Oakland - but ... it's time," she said. "I want to go out on a high note. No regrets. And that's how I feel. I've had the privilege of working with so many amazing young kids that have grown up to be amazing young adults."

The after-school club has given students the opportunity to learn about basics of theater, public speaking, character development, set building, play auditions and production. Leafblad said some of the kids have been with the program for three years, and she has seen their confidence grow.

"Some of the kids started where they would have maybe two lines in the play and they were nervous and scared. And by the time that they were with me for three years, they had leads, they'd have 40, 50 lines in a play and they would get them all memorized and just do wonderfully," she said.

  Cathy's Creative Kids Club director Cathy Leafblad runs a dress rehearsal for "Alice in Neverland" Monday at Oakland Elementary School in Antioch. Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com
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